Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost.

The last week or so has been an absolute blur of events and activities. I could not possibly summarize all that has gone on since we last spoke, but I will attempt to update you on my recent growth and my current state of mind (which is, as usual, befuddled).

I am increasingly grateful for the people I have gotten to know during my time here. From the North Carolinian students I easily cliqued with to the amazing group of young people at church to the accepting friends of a friend, I am constantly overwhelmed, in the best possible way, by the individuals I am encountering. Meeting people in a place out of my comfort zone, in unfamiliar territory, was one of the aspects of being abroad that I was most looking forward to. And it has proved to be no disappointment. I wish that I had the ability to tell you how special and cherished each of these new friends are to me, but there simply isn't enough time. Just trust me when I tell you that, while those I am meeting here certainly don't replace the loved ones I left behind, they definitely make being away from home feel a little more like...well...home.

As much as I have discovered reasons why I love being here, especially at this time in my life, I was also harshly reminded, this week, of the realities of what it means to be an ocean away from family and friends. It is so difficult, in the face of tragedy, to merely be an onlooker who mourns and supports from afar. And yet, through the loss of a child, the compromised safety of a friend in Chile, the illness of a grandfather, the health complications of a friend, I am merely reminded of the tangible power of prayer. It is, perhaps, even when in the presence of these difficulties, the only thing that can really be done. And the greatest part about prayer is that the burden is no longer ours to carry; in this very act of sending requests to the Lord, He gently receives them and promises to fulfill His good work. I don't know about you, but I would much rather these trials be handled by a God whose love is bigger than all of it than to even think that little, tiny, insignificant I can take them on alone.

So, there you have it. For the second time in my life, I realized, treasured, and was thankful for the value of Home. This is not to say that I do not love my home, because I do. But I often get very caught up in exploring and getting away from what I know that I forget to appreciate what it is I am already blessed by. Rest assured, I am very aware of all that I have left behind in Jacksonville and in Charlotte. But I am also very aware of how important this time is to my growth and to my future. Learning the pain of being away and helpless from loved ones in a time of need is an inevitable life lesson, and perhaps I have encountered it earlier than others. In contrast, making lasting friendships with people who have had wholly different life experiences and cultural exposures than I have had is something that some people never encounter in their entire life.

I count myself richly, richly blessed to be here. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for those who have made and continue to make it possible.

Keep praying to our Mighty God, whose perfect love is casting out fear.

Love,
lvp